Participate in a research project

Participants Required:

Children (6-12 years old) on the autism spectrum (level 2) and reported sleep difficulties, and their primary caregiver (children-primary caregiver dyad)

Brief Description of Project:

Sleep difficulties (SD) are significant and profound experiences that can impact the development of children on the autism spectrum.

Although cognitive behavioural therapy/behavioural sleep medicines are the first line for non-respiratory SD in children on the autism spectrum, there is increasing interest in alternative therapy. One such is using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modality.

This research aims to document the outcomes of electroencephalogram-tailored repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (α-rTMS) on children with autism spectrum and sleep difficulties, their quality of life and those of their primary caregivers using pre-post objective and subjective measures.

The research is designed as a randomised, waitlist-controlled, open-label pilot trial (20 participants; child-primary caregiver dyad), which will collect pre-post objective and subjective data on sleep outcomes using polysomnography (home sleep study), actigraphy (wearable on the wrist) and children sleep habit questionnaire (primary caregiver rated survey form). Pre-post-therapy data on the autism spectrum and quality of life will be collected using primary caregiver rated survey forms such as social responsive scale v2, paediatric quality of life inventory and Short Form 12 item (version 2) Health Survey (SF-12v2).

SURVEY

Participants Required:

Participants will be parents/guardians/careers of children on the spectrum, for an online questionnaire. A focus group will also be conducted in Gold Coast/ Brisbane region with participants being autistic children.

Brief Description of Project:

This investigation will explore Human-Centred Design practices (HCD), Action Research and Participatory Action Research principles (which incorporate both co-design and inclusive design strategies) to potentially improve our ability to design devices and equipment that encourage engagement with children on the autism spectrum (a group that is understudied due to the lack of suitable research equipment for their sensory differences).

This project aims to create a sensory and material design framework referencing the specific needs of children on the spectrum, which can be used to inform future designs and improve design outcomes.

There are two parts to the study. A focus group for autistic children and an online questionnaire for their parent/caregiver.

Participants will be children on the spectrum and their parents/caregivers. The age range is not specific and will be between 5 and 14 years old. Participation in the study is voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time. Having input from both children on the spectrum and their parents will give us valid insights into the sensory preferences these children experience.

SURVEY

Participants Required:

We are looking for young people between 5 and 17 years of age diagnosed with ASD who also experience emotional dysregulation (e.g. easily irritable)

Brief Description of Project:

Research has shown the irritability may be the end result of a complex system of underlying difficulties including anxiety, sleep issues, mood concerns and epilepsy. These difficulties may be linked to serotonergic dysfunction. Pimavanserin may modify this serotonergic difficulty thus improving the downstream outcomes noted above.

SURVEY

Participants Required:

The research team is looking for educators supporting autistic students in Years 1, 2, and/or 3, in inclusive schools.

Brief Description of Project:

The purpose of this project is to explore Australian teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and teaching practices to support self-determination in autistic students in years 1-3 in inclusive contexts, using mixed methods, which includes the implementation of survey and interview.

SURVEY

Participants Required:

Any Autistic or Non-Autistic adult

Brief Description of Project:

We are an international team of Autistic and non-Autistic researchers studying loneliness and wellbeing.

Why is the research being conducted?
Many researchers measure loneliness in Autistic adults through scales that may not be appropriate for them. We have collaborated with Autistic adults and other experts to adapt a loneliness measure to better suit the Autistic community, as we need to appropriately measure loneliness in order to alleviate it.

Can you help?
We are looking for Autistic (self-identifying and formally diagnosed) and non-Autistic adults (18 years and older). You can be from any country, but the survey is presented in English.

What do I have to do?
You will complete an anonymous 15–30 minute online survey about your background, experiences of loneliness and mental health.

You can complete the survey with the help of a support person. You can choose to complete the survey yourself or do it over the phone or video call with a researcher.

SURVEY

Participants Required:

Adults (18+ years) who identify as being autistic/on the autism spectrum, and who are fluent in English with no co-occurring Intellectual Disability (does not include learning disabilities e.g. dyslexia).

Brief Description of Project:

This study is aimed at furthering our understanding of mental health and wellbeing amongst autistic adults. We are looking to see if ‘subgroups’ of autistic adults that have similar strengths and challenges can be identified and then investigate if these groups have different relationships between varying areas of their mental health and wellbeing.

You will be asked to complete an online survey (approx 45 minutes to complete) which will ask you to respond to a range of existing and validated measures around common characteristics that are thought to be important for autistic adults (e.g., sensory sensitivity, camouflaging, emotion regulation) and mental health and wellbeing (e.g., mood, sleep, quality of life). You will also be asked to complete some basic demographics and will have the opportunity to opt-in for a 2-month follow-up.

SURVEY

Participants Required:

Adults (18+ years) who are autistic and have a co-occurring diagnosis of OCD.

Brief Description of Project:

We want to better understand what kinds of repetitive behaviours individuals engage in, and how they may be experienced as helpful or challenging. We are seeking autistic adults with a co-occurring diagnosis of OCD to complete a brief 15 minute survey and an interview (approximately 30-45 minutes), including individuals with formal diagnoses or who self-identify as autistic.

Interviews can be conducted online or face-to-face depending on participants’ individual preferences. The online survey asks questions about experiences with repetitive behaviours and interests and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. We will ask for more details about these behaviours in a follow-up interview. Once participants have completed both the survey and the interview, they will be provided with a $20 gift voucher as reimbursement of your time.

Participation is completely voluntary, and your responses will be deidentified. This project has ethical approval from Griffith University Ethics Committee (GU ref no: 2023/327). To access the information sheet, consent form, and survey, please click here:

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Participants Required:

QUT researchers are inviting young neurodivergent children (aged between 4 and 8 years old) and their parent/carer to participate in this study. Being neurodivergent means having a cognitive style that varies from society-defined ‘typical’ minds, and might include being autistic, dyslexic, Tourette’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among other variations including those not necessarily indicative of disability. A child does not have to have a diagnosis to take part in this research.

Brief Description of Project:

The purpose of this research is to investigate young neurodivergent children’s perspectives of identity – that is, how do young neurodivergent children see themselves as a person? What are their strengths, interests, and goals for the future?

Your participation (as legal guardian) will involve an initial interview with the lead researcher (Helen) to provide some background information about your child.

Your child’s participation, with you present, will involve two visits from Helen, during which your child will be invited to share aspects of their identity with Helen through methods that feel comfortable for them. This might include speaking about their identity, drawing a picture of themselves, taking photos, or finding pictures online using the researcher’s computer. Your child may use assistive communication methods to participate. Your child will then have opportunity to make a digital story book titled: “All About Me”. Helen, and you (the parent/carer) can help your child make this book. The finished book can then be shared with your child’s key people in their life (if your child agrees). For example, the book can be shared with their teachers, which is particularly helpful if your child is starting a new school year.

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Participants Required:

We would love to hear from neurodivergent adults (aged 18 and over) who live in Australia to help raise neurodivergent voices and improve care. We are looking for self-diagnosed or officially diagnosed adults who have any of the below neurotypes: Autism, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) including 2e presentations, AuDHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia.

Brief Description of Project:

We would like neurodivergent adults (aged 18 and over) to complete a short 15–30-minute online survey on their perspectives towards the use of self-guided online programs for mental health.  In the online survey you will be asked both closed and open questions and you do not have to answer all questions or give a great amount of detail (unless you want to). These questions will explore your previous experiences and attitudes of using various types of mental health interventions as well as some information about your circumstances. Findings from this study will inform the future development and implementation of these programs with the neurodivergent community, with the hope of improving care and allowing the voices and needs of neurodivergent individuals to be heard.

Participants Required:

Participants will be women aged 18 years and over who are pregnant with a child who has a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) on the autism spectrum.

Brief Description of Project:

The aim of this research is to test the efficacy of an innovative early intervention and parent support program, ENACT, for families of babies with an increased chance of autism due to family history. Participants will be randomly assigned to the ENACT and usual care conditions. Participants allocated to ENACT will be offered the program starting prenatally and continuing until the baby is 12 months old. All participants will be asked to complete assessments (questionnaires and/or developmental assessments) when signing up and when their child is 3, 6 and 12 months of age. The mother-baby relationship, maternal mental health and baby development will all be assessed.

Participants Required:

People between 14 and 40 years of age with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may be eligible to join this study.
Participants with a history of seizures, an implanted medical device, or moderate to severe intellectual disability cannot participate in this study.

Description of Project:

Background: Many individuals with ASD experience difficulty with social functioning; for example, in understanding what other people are thinking or feeling. This may cause significant distress and lead to difficulties and anxiety in social situations. There are very few intervention options for improving abilities related to social functioning in ASD.

Aim: The aim of this project is to determine whether rTMS can be used to improve social function. rTMS is a safe and non-invasive means of stimulating nerve cells in a particular part of the brain via the administration of brief magnetic pulses. rTMS has been developed as a intervention for major depressive disorder, and we have previously found that rTMS can benefit social aspects of ASD.

Methodology: In this study we will stimulate a region of the brain that is involved in social understanding and social communication. This region is called the right temporoparietal junction, or rTPJ.

Some participants will receive the real form of rTMS, while others will receive a sham or placebo form. The sham or placebo form mimics the feeling of rTMS, but no brain stimulation is delivered. You will not know which one you receive until the end of your involvement in the study. Those who received the sham or placebo form will be given the opportunity to undergo the real rTMS intervention at the end of their involvement in the study.